And so it Continues

When I take the car to the local Pep Boys to "have a code pulled" they inform me that not only did the "code" mention the thermostat but it also indicated 2 problems with my transmission.

UGH

I had a feeling it was the transmission in the first place but was relieved to find out it was the thermostat at the first Pep Boys.

While approaching the Cajon I had felt the car having a hard time shifting when going up the mountains and so I would shift into a lower gear. I noticed that the car was revving into the 4-5 rpm's stage when shifting. I knew that wasn't right. Which is why I was insistent that everyone that looked at the car check the trans fluid. I gues you can't actually check the trans itself without pulling a code or having the trans actually go out on your completely.

So, I sob inwardly a bit and ask "what do I do now". The Pep Boys guy informs me they don't do transmission work so he doesn't know the extent of damage as correalated by the dreaded codes. But he will give me a coupon for the local Aamco to get a free scan done and I can decide from there.

In the meantime I am working the BET Awards and put off going to Aamco until I have a free moment. When I do call for an appointment I am told their scan takes 3 HOURS! 3 hours! That's is a helluva long ass scan. Ok fine, drop off the car and bum a ride home (thanks Chris!) and sit and wait and worry. In the meantime, my so called friends on Twitter are all regaling me with tales of woe about their Transmission problems, being ever so encouraging NOT.

5 hours after drop off the call comes, the car is going to cost almost $3,000 to fix and won't be done until Monday (because of the damn holiday on Saturday).

Marisa and my firned Sylvia have been nice enough to loan me their cars whe they are not using them, so I haven't been totally housebound all weekend. And Kathy is loaning me the money, so the car will be in tip top condition (maybe I should get them to throw in an oil change) when I pick it up.

We'll Leave the Light On For You

For those of you familiar with the drive to and from Vegas you will understand the gravitas of this event, for those of you not, just bear with me and imagine a HUGE mountain when I say Cajon.

So, Megan and I are driving home from Vegas. Singing along with the radio, sucking down our final slushies from SOnic (sigh) and generally dreading the fact that our little vacation is over.

We have made it over 200 miles and begin the homestreach when we reach the Cajon Pass. The middle of nowhere ride. WHen suddenly I see this out of the corner of my left eye.

FUCK! I think was the first word out of my mouth. Because now we are in the Pass and there is no where to get off. I mention it to Megan and hope I don't scare the shit out of her, but really I am scared. I hate having an engine light on, it doesn't tell you it is the actual engine that is trouble, it doesn't tell you ok you have 25 miles before this sucker blows up, nothing!

Finally we get to the end of the pass and I get off the first exit that has the look of civilization, Upland. I find an auto parts store, where the guy inside informs me they are not supposed to "help" customers with their cars, but he does anyways. I won't name him or his store because I don't want him to get in trouble but if he is reading (I slipped him my card) THANK YOU! He helped me check my trans fluid and my oil. The oil was a little low so I bought some and put it in, spilling everywhere of course cuz I was too cheap to buy a funnel. no luck the light was still on. Then I patiently wait for the car to sufficiently cool to check my radiator fluid, all the while Twittering asking for advice over the interwebz. WHen I open the radiator cap (damned arthritis made it very hard to do), I see green fluid right up at the top so I assume that means it is full. I close it up and pray to the gods of cars for guidance (i.e. Twitter).

I called my local Goodyear where we have been taking all of our cars for almost 20 years and talk to a calming rational voice. First thing he says is "did you get gas recently? Are you sure the gas cap is tightened properly?" WHA? HUH? To me that was the stupidest thing, but I'll be damned if it doesn't say right on the gas cap that if it isn't tightened for 3 clicks the engine light will come on. But no that wasn't our problem.

He directs me to a local Goodyear that is getting ready to close, those wonderful men, open up my hood and start poking around. First thing they notice is that my radiator cap is not on correctly and wondered how far I drove like that. "Only a couple of miles, I swear". A couple of more and I would have had real issues because with my stupid arthritis I didn't close the damn cap all the way. Sigh

After almost 45 minutes of helping me (past closing time and FOR FREE), they ascertain that my thermostat is not opening up and ergo the car may be overheating. Of course they can't fix it right now, (The manager offered to drive us home! 75 miles!) but they help us find a local Pep Boys that can fix us tonight. YAY!

We find the Pep Boys almost by mistake, and settle in for a long wait while they fix my car. My tummy is rumbling at this point and we head off to find something to eat.

The only place within walking distance was the Rat Factory. That's right Chucky frikkin Cheese. UGH. I didn't like this place when my kids were little I can't imagine going there without any kids. Needless to say really, the pizza was Horrible the fries were gross and the only saving factor was the Diet Coke. How we longed for Sonic at that point.

They replace my thermostat and show me the crack, but inform me that my light is still on and I have to take it to my local Pep Boys in the morning to have a code pulled.

After I make them pinkie swear that my car won't blow up on the ride home (sigh), Megan and I head off home 4 hours after the initial light coming on.

Vegas With Megan

had a quick 2 day gig in Vegas last week and since Megan was staying after everyone else went home (I know I haven't actually written that post yet, just roll with me), she asked if she could come with me.


I have not been a "tourist" in Vegas in a long long time, she wore my ass (and all my other body parts) OUT!


We stayed at my favorite casino, Sam's Town, off the strip and discovered a Sonic Drive IN close by. OMG the slushie was divine and we always seemed to get there during Happy Hour when they were half off! WIN!


We went to the Ethel M chocolate factory, but unfortunately were moments too late because they had finished production for the day. We did Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, where Megan took her picture with almost every figure. We even went Downtown every evening to see the light show and eat Deep Fried Oreos. Of course what is Vegas without a stop at the M&M store, or a quick stop at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign? Yep, we did those as well.


It was a great trip and I am so glad to have had the chance to do it with Megan before she branches out to NYC next summer.


btw, I only played $20 the entire time we were there, I couldn't leave Vegas without playing the Great Wall of China. Balls Balls Balls!


ps the links above will take you to Flick'r picture sets of the places that were visited.

Calm Before the Storm

It is a quiet Tuesday evening (quiet now because Matthew stopped screaming and Caitlyn stopped whining), within the next half hour or so Kathy will return home with Stephanie and Arnild in tow. Then in a mere 16 hours later Gretchen, Gordon, Melody, Jon, Lynn, Megan, Robin, Bryan, Shawn, Erika and Jackson will also arrive.

We are gearing up for a rip roaring good time. A simple layout/breakdown of the plans:

Wednesday: Dinner (spaghetti) at Dad's in Canoga Park
Thursday: Seaworld San Diego
Friday: Dockweiler Beach (fire pits!)
Saturday: Lazy day by the Hotel pool, Pizza at a park and then dessert at the Soda Fountain with Dad.
Sunday: Hiking at Placerita Canyon to spread mom's ashes.
Monday: The Gerth/Franks/Mizgala contingent leaves (minus Megan, she figures into my later plans). Los Angeles Zoo.
Tuesday: The Zynda contingent leaves and Me and Megan head to Vegas.
Thursday: The Winters contingent leaves
Friday: Megan and I return to LA.

Busy busy busy!

Any and all are welcomed to join!

Send me an email and I will give you more detailed information

Senility or Stupidity

We all know Caitlyn thinks I am old, now I am just trying to prove her right.

When I got the email about working this next convention, I immediately put the dates on my Yahoo calendar which automatically updates to my phone and then I went into the kitchen and wrote it on the family calendar on the fridge.

Good right?

A few days ago Marisa IM'd me asking if I was working this weekend or next aqnd I said I think I am working both but let me double check. I looked again at the email and realized I had marked the wrong days on the calendar in the kitchen, I started the assignment on Sunday and should have written Saturday. So I replied to her yes, I am working in Los Angeles this weekend and Las Vegas next. Then I went to the kitchen and corrected what I had thought to write wrong.

This morning I got up (I went out late last night, more on that another time) and got ready for work, reopened the email to find where I was to meet my supervisor and who exactly it would be. WHA? HUH? I had it right the first time, SUNDAY is May 31 not SATURDAY. Even writing it on the stupid calendar I didn't realize that the 31st was Sunday and that I had it right the first time.

Ugh

8 Places to Live

Hilda over at the Mind Wobbles had this Meme going and I joined in.

Here are the instructions, copied from Hilda who copied them from DIxie...

"McCain has 8 homes in the U.S I thought it was 13 but whatevs. You have to pick eight places you would like to live. List them. You don’t have to list your reasons, but if you do at least for a few of them, it would be more fun. And remember that the only rule is: the homes must be within the borders of the United States of America or else, within the borders of the country you live in, so as to utterly emulate the McCains."

I'll add the usual, let me know in my Comments if you're participating...

1. Las Vegas - I would love to have a home there to host my family when they visit.

2. Detroit(ish) - Don't think I am ready to move back into the inner city, but it would be nice to have a place there, again close to family.

3. Chicago(ish) - Have I mentioned I would want my homes near family members?

4. Denver - I fell in love with this city when we visited a few years ago. It seems to have it all - all the seasons, good sports venues, great culture. And it is smack dab (ish) in the middle of the country for the family to come visit me.

5. Santa Diego - I need a coastal home (don't we all?) and it is a toss up between Santa Barbara and San Diego. I chose San Diego because of the many things to do when family comes to visit.

6. New York - The hustle, the bustle, I would like to be a part of it, just not all the time.

7. Montreal - Actually, I couldn't decide between, Montreal, VanCouver or Toronto, so I went with the family theme and chose Montreal.

8. An RV around the country - I have always dreamed of driving around to all the baseball stadiums in the country.

BlogHer09

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